Big East: Ryan Clarke

Big East NFL prospects for 2013

January, 26, 2012
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As it stands today, there are only two players from the Big East listed on Mel Kiper's top 5 player rankings by position for the 2012 draft -- Mohamed Sanu at receiver and Bruce Irvin at outside linebacker.

But take heart, my friends. Next season seems to be in line to be much better.

Kiper has come out with his top 5 player rankings by position for the NFL draft class of 2013. These only include seniors, of course, since we have no idea about underclassmen leaving early. You will see several more Big East players listed:

Quarterback

No. 4 Geno Smith, West Virginia. Kiper believes Smith will get more scrutiny next season once he enters the draft spotlight.

Running back

No. 3 Ray Graham, Pitt.

Fullbacks

No. 5 Ryan Clarke, West Virginia

Receiver

No. 3 Tavon Austin, West Virginia

Center

No. 3 Mario Benavides, Louisville

You can see the complete lists by clicking on the links above. As always, I'll keep you updated once these lists start changing. For now, really interesting to see how some of these players stack up against the rest.

Final pregame thoughts

January, 4, 2012
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MIAMI -- After a month of analyzing keys, players, depth charts and matchups it is time for West Virginia to show what it is made of in the Discover Orange Bowl against Clemson.

This could be the Mountaineers' final game as members of the Big East, so you know they want to go out on top. And as always, a good performance in this one can be used as a springboard into 2012, especially with so many stars coming back on offense.

West Virginia announced several lineup changes before the game began: Tyler Rader will start at right guard in place of Quinton Spain; Pat Eger will start at right tackle in place of Curtis Feigt; Shawne Alston will start in place of Dustin Garrison; and Ryan Clarke will be the B-back as Alston takes over for Garrison.

The starting spur safety will be a game-time decision.

The stadium looks to be about half full, but a larger contingent of Clemson fans is on hand for this game.

Practice report: West Virginia

August, 26, 2011
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We are at the end of our practice reports for each Big East team. What lingering questions are left for West Virginia?

1. Running back rotation. There is so much talent at tailback and fullback, coach Dana Holgorsen says he plans to play seven players in the backfield this season. In what order? Who knows. Holgorsen has yet to announce his starters, and has reiterated throughout fall camp that his young freshmen have impressed him. Andrew Buie, Dustin Garrison and Vernard Roberts and Trey Johnson are fighting for playing time at tailback. Holgorsen says Ryan Clarke has a slight lead at fullback.

"Somebody has to run out there first," Holgorsen said. "Whoever the quote/unquote starter is going to be will mean more to that guy than it does to us. We know that they are all going to play. Throughout the course of the game,we will decide who to put in there the most. We don’t know how that is going to happen. A specific person can get jacked up about, but that has no meaning on how much someone is going to play."

2. Receivers. Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin have locked up two starting spots. But the third is between Ivan McCartney and Ryan Nehlen. Holgorsen has no idea who is going to win that competition. "Right about the time you think Ivan has an edge, then Ryan comes back and has his best day since he has been here. That is an ongoing deal," Holgorsen said. Expect to see Tyler Urban and Devon Brown to play about the same amount.

3. Depth. There are a few areas of concern from a depth standpoint. Holgorsen has not been pleased with his backup offensive linemen, saying, "We would like them to push the first teamers a little more, but they are what they are." Linebacker is another area that Holgorsen mentioned as well. "Casey Vance has been playing OK," Holgorsen said. "When you have a guy like Josh Francis behind him, who is more talented, but if he isn’t going in the right direction, we have to play the other guy. We would like a lot of position battles, so the more the better." Quarterback also has been an issue, with Geno Smith and Paul Millard as the only scholarship players on the roster.

Big East and 2012 NFL draft

July, 11, 2011
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For those who missed it, ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. is out with his early look at the top juniors and seniors at their respective positions. The Big East is represented with seven players. Let's start with the seniors:

Senior running backs
No. 4 Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati

Senior offensive guards
No. 5 Lucas Nix, Pitt

Senior defensive ends
No. 3 Brandon Lindsey, Pitt

Junior fullbacks
No. 1 Ryan Clarke, West Virginia
Kiper says: Don't tell Ryan Clarke he can't run the ball -- he got to carry it 80 times last year, and even broke off a 23-yarder. He even wears No. 32. That said, his best skill, like that of former Mountaineer Owen Schmitt, is as a lead blocker. But expect to see Clarke get more short-yardage looks this year; he scored an impressive eight touchdowns in 2010.

Junior receivers
No. 4 Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers
Kiper says: Both Sanu and Randle have had to deal with inconsistent QB play, but few question their talent.

Junior tight ends
No. 5 D.C. Jefferson, Rutgers

Junior centers
No. 2 Mario Benavides, Louisville
We continue our team position rankings today with running back. The running back situation in the league is similar to the receiver situation. Only one team returns its leading rusher from a year ago (Rutgers leading rusher Jordan Thomas is now at cornerback). Most everyone has a lot of young, unproven talent waiting in the wings.

So how to judge? To make these rankings, I considered returning starters, accolades for returning starters, depth and potential. I went with the top 2 teams based largely on the belief that their No. 1 running backs will be the two best in the league even though depth is lacking. Everybody else has significant questions so I weighed depth and potential more heavily.

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Isaiah Pead
Mark Zerof/US PresswireRunning back Isaiah Pead is part of a strong returning backfield for Cincinnati.
1. Cincinnati. The Bearcats have perhaps the best back in the league in Isaiah Pead, a second-team Big East selection last year after he ran for 1,029 yards and six touchdowns. A healthy Darrin Williams should help, too. Joining them this year are two highly touted true freshmen in Jameel Poteat and Akise Teague, making this a unit that has returning talent and even more potential than last season.

2. Pittsburgh. The Panthers have one of the best running backs in the league in Ray Graham, but behind him there are major questions. Zach Brown is transferring in from Wisconsin, so that should help. Depth is a major concern, but Graham is the reason this unit is up so high. Some of the incoming true freshmen among Malcolm Crockett, Jeremiah Bryson, Isaac Bennett, and Corey Davis are going to have to play.

3. West Virginia. Noel Devine is gone, leaving a big hole to fill at the running back spot. This is one of the biggest positions of intrigue going into fall camp because it is so wide open. True freshman Vernard Roberts came in during the spring and did a nice job. Ryan Clarke, Shawne Alston, Matt Lindamood and Trey Johnson are in the mix. But expectations are high for true freshmen Andrew Buie and Dustin Garrison to contribute as well. The Mountaineers have the best depth but no No. 1 back right now, which is why they are here.

4. Louisville. Another big-time rusher in Bilal Powell is gone and so are his 1,405 yards. Victor Anderson had a nice spring, leaving many to hope he can return to the form that he showed as a freshman. He and Jeremy Wright could be a fearsome 1-2 combo. The Cardinals are committed to running the ball, so that is a plus, and a big reason why the Cardinals are ranked No. 4. The big question here is how an inexperienced offensive line is going to affect the run game.

5. Syracuse. The Orange lose Delone Carter and his 1,233 yards. But Antwon Bailey is back and ready to assume the starting job. Bailey had 554 yards last season, but he is not the power back Carter was. Prince Tyson Gulley is second on the depth chart, and there are others who could contribute: Steven Rene, Jerome Smith, Mario Tull and maybe even freshman Greg Tobias. There also is freshman Adonis Ameen-Moore, a bruiser with speed.

6. USF. Hopes are high for Darrell Scott to come in and transform the Bulls rushing game. He is eligbile after transferring in from Colorado, and so is Dontae Aycock, a transfer from Auburn. Demetris Murray, who ran for 573 yards last season, also returns. But there are questions here. Will Scott be the savior? He was OK at Colorado and had a so-so spring. Who is the game-breaker? The Bulls traditionally have struggled to run the ball consistently. USF has not had a 1,000 yard rusher since 2005.

7. Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights have struggled in the run game since Ray Rice left and believe they might have a game-changer in true freshman Savon Huggins. No question the young man has talent, but will he step in right away to start and make a huge impact out of the gate? Jeremy Deering, De'Antwan Williams and Jawan Jamison are in the mix as well, but all eyes are going to be on Huggins. One key to this whole mix -- how much better will the offensive line be to help the run game?

8. Connecticut. The Huskies lose their MVP in Jordan Todman, who led the league with 1,695 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns. Also gone is backup Robbie Frey, leaving this position a gigantic question mark. DJ Shoemate is penciled in to start and is the team's leading returning rusher with 115 yards and a touchdown. Redshirt freshman Lyle McCombs also will be in the mix to start and there are some true freshmen who might play as well.

Previous rankings:
Time for the second part of my interview with West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen, focused around the personnel on offense and his expectations for the team. In case you missed it, Part I ran Friday.

AA: How do you feel about the increased expectations now that you are head coach?

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Geno Smith
AP Photo/Jeff Gentner West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith "needs to get it done now" according to coach Dana Holgorsen.
DH: Nobody has any higher expectations than I do. I don’t worry too much about what happens on the outside. I just worry about what our expectations are on the inside.

AA: One of the questions I have gotten the most is what is going to happen at running back. What do you expect come fall practice?

DH: I expect them to be competitive. That’s our deepest position. We have a couple older guys, mostly bigger guys in Shawne Alston, and Ryan Clarke. We’ve got two sophomores and three true freshmen that have a chance to be the guy. In the spring, we didn’t know who (Vernard) Roberts was in the first two or three practices, but he got better and better and took ahold of the spot toward the end of spring. (Dustin) Garrison and (Andrew) Buie, both highly successful players in high school, we’ll throw them in the mix and see which one comes out on top. It takes you two or three guys to be able to get it done, anyway.

AA: Geno Smith is getting a lot of mention right now as potential Big East Player of the Year and maybe even a dark horse for the Heisman. What is a realistic expectation for him?

DH: He needs to seize the opportunity so to speak. Experience isn’t one thing that he’s lacking. The experience in this offense is something he’s lacking, maturing both physically and mentally and leadership wise is something he has to expedite. He’s not young anymore. He’s got to get it done now. I like his body language right now. He likes to play football, but he needs to play at a high level all the time. That’s practice and games. He can’t have any days off.

AA: In respect to that, what did you see out of him in the spring?

DH: I didn’t view him as a guy who took some days off or anything like that. It’s just game day is different. You’ve got to prepare all week. That’s one thing I don’t know yet. I haven’t prepared for a game yet with him. How does he prepare? How does he study? How does he learn? How does he rally the troops and get everybody better? (Houston quarterback) Case Keenum made every player around him better and (Oklahoma State quarterback) Brandon Weeden studied like crazy. He knew the game plan and signals before I even signaled it. Geno has got to get on that level. Loving to play football and loving to compete is good on game day, but I’ve got to see it for six days out of him prior to game day.

AA: What are your biggest objectives now before fall practice starts?

DH: Continuing to unite as one, so to speak. We’ve got an existing defensive staff, new offensive staff, sides of the ball that haven’t played together. The only way to win championships is if you are truly a team. That needs to trickle down to the administration and the fans. There needs to be a high level of excitement surrounding Mountaineer football.
2010 overall record: 9-4
2010 conference record: 5-2, tied for first in Big East

Returning starters:

Offense: 8. Defense: 4. Punter/kicker: 1.

Top returners:

QB Geno Smith, WR Tavon Austin, DE Bruce Irvin, DE Julian Miller, CB Keith Tandy, OT Don Barclay, WR Brad Starks, S Terence Garvin

Key losses:

RB Noel Devine, WR Jock Sanders, CB Brandon Hogan, DL Chris Neild, S Robert Sands, DL Scooter Berry, S Sidney Glover, LB J.T. Thomas

2010 statistical leaders (* returners)

Rushing: Noel Devine (936 yards)
Passing: Geno Smith* (2,763 yards)
Receiving:
Tavon Austin* (787 yards)
Tackles: Terence Garvin* (76 tackles)
Sacks: Bruce Irvin* (14 sacks)
Interceptions: Keith Tandy* (6 interceptions)

Spring answers

1. Offensive firepower: Dana Holgorsen's arrival had an immediate effect on the Mountaineers' offense, as witnessed by the 800-plus yards and 87 points put up in the spring game. The offense wasn't quite that crisp the entire spring, but it's clear that West Virginia will be hard to stop in 2011. Quarterback Geno Smith showed no ill effects from his offseason foot surgery, and even without injured players like Shawne Alston, Brad Starks and Ryan Clarke, the offense found ways to move the ball in Holgorsen's schemes this spring.

2. Bruce Almighty: Of course, the offense was helped by the fact that the defense couldn't hit the quarterback. If it could, Bruce Irvin might have injured every signal-caller on the roster. Coming off a 14-sack season, Irvin spent more time in the backfield than most Mountaineer ball carriers this spring. He had an almost unfair advantage since both West Virginia starting tackles were out with injuries. But Irvin also showed he's ready to take on an every-down role this season, and that he's still one of the most fearsome pass-rushers in the country.

3. Urban renewal: Tight end Tyler Urban wondered what his role in the offense would be when Holgorsen brought his spread to town. Urban moved to the slot receiver position and shined there in the spring. He's a matchup nightmare for linebackers at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds. The only note of caution: Urban has been hyped in the spring before and has usually become an afterthought by the fall. He and the Mountaineers hope that is different this year.

Fall questions

1. Replacing Neild: Finding someone to fill in for noseguard Chris Neild was one of the toughest jobs facing defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel this spring. Jorge Wright stepped forward and appeared to earn the starting job, but he was arrested on gun and marijuana charges just before the spring game. He has been suspended indefinitely, and though Bill Stewart has shown he will give guys second chances, no one really knows for sure when Wright will be back. That leaves the noseguard position in flux this summer, with Josh Taylor and incoming junior-college transfer Shaq Rowell the best available options.

2. The offensive line: Holgorsen may have one of the brightest offensive minds in the country, but it's hard to move the ball without a good offensive line no matter how smart you are. The Mountaineers didn't have either starting tackle this spring, and starting guard Josh Jenkins hurt his knee in the spring game and could miss significant time if it does not heal this summer. The O-line hasn't been dominant since the Rich Rodriguez era, and depth is lacking. West Virginia needs things to come together there by the fall to reach its full potential.

3. The kicking game: Veteran place-kicker Tyler Bitancurt had all kinds of problems this spring, missing field goal tries and having some blocked. While it's too early to panic over kicking, Bitancurt needs to figure out what's wrong or he'll be out of a job. One solution is to just score more touchdowns, but odds are at least one big game in 2011 will come down to a field goal. The Mountaineers also want to get more explosive in the kick-return game after not doing much there last year.

Big East lunchtime links

April, 25, 2011
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Friday Big East mailbag

April, 15, 2011
4/15/11
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Happy Tax Day (though is there anything happy about this date?). Your emails are never taxing for me to answer. Let's get to it:

Bradley from Little Birch, W.Va., writes: I just read your article about how the transition from Stew to Holgorsen will go. I have no doubt that this will go as smoothly as it can. As a West Virginia boy, born and raised, I understand Stew's love for his state and the Blue and Gold itself. Coach Huggins told the boys on their way to the Final Four in '10 that WVU is all we have here in WV. Other than that very small group of people that root for that school across the river from Ashland, WVU is who you root for and what you care about. Nobody knows this more than Stew. Though I don't think he is the best coach we have had in Morgantown, I do think he is probably the best man in college football. He will do what is best for the school and in turn, the best thing for the state.

Brian Bennett: Well, I'll say this. I don't know that it would work with any other coach than a guy like Bill Stewart. Oliver Luck surely is banking on the fact that Stewart would never do anything to hurt WVU, no matter how much his feelings have been hurt by all this. Besides, if he can go out with a nine-win or better season, he'll have posted a pretty good four-year run in Morgantown. No one will ever remember him as the best coach in school history, but his record will look good in the history books.


Kit from Martinsburg, W.Va., writes: Brian, Not this debate again. You just HAD to know you would get an email from me. If this were a 3 round boxing match, I would say Geno is up by a 10-8 advantage in the first round. No question Tino is a nice QB. Geno is a great one. I really don't see much debate here. If you had to pick a qb for your team, no matter what style O you ran, who would you choose?

Brian Bennett: There's no doubt I'm a Geno Smith guy. I had him as my first-team All-Big East quarterback (as the coaches also should have done) and had him as one of the five best players in the Big East for 2010 (while Tino Sunseri didn't make the list). There's no question that Smith is far ahead at this point, though Sunseri should greatly benefit from the new offense at Pitt. The point of that post is that both guys will be measured by the other one for their careers, given the rivalry and the similarities in their paths.


John from Morgantown writes: Do you think the Big 12 TV deal and its suspected stability would have any effect on the Big East TV negotiations and stability? It seems like it would guarantee at least a decade before the next expansion wave, doesn't it?

Brian Bennett: Colleague David Ubben has a good blog post about the impact of the 13-year deal that league inked with Fox. This won't prevent expansion and realignment, but it sure helps the Big 12 look a lot more stable. And that league has instituted some very stiff exit fees. The one thing to watch with the Big 12 is still going to be the imbalance between schools like Texas and Oklahoma and those like Kansas and Iowa State, especially with the Longhorns' own TV network raking in far more revenue than its league partners. But a Big 12 school would only want to break off if the money is better elsewhere. While the recent trend of huge TV deals for leagues bodes well for the Big East when it enters its next negotiations, the league is not going to come close to generating the kinds of contracts the other AQ conferences have gotten simply because of popularity.


Drew from D.C. writes: You say that the Big East wouldn't (or couldn't) expand to 12 teams by luring a school from another AQ conference. I ask, why not? What's preventing the conference from putting a full court press on schools like Vanderbilt, Maryland, Boston College (yes, a retread), and NC State to come to a conference where they could more easily get to a BCS bowl and where they would be in a better basketball conference?

Brian Bennett: Drew, Drew, Drew. I'm not sure how many different ways I can answer this same question. So try out this visual.


Ryan Jackson from Madison, W. Va., writes: Recently, I've seen a couple articles on the WVU Defense not getting a lot of reps in runnning situations. Should this be a major concern?

Brian Bennett: It's not so much that the Mountaineers aren't defending running plays, because Dana Holgorsen's offense does run the ball. But it does so out of the shotgun spread formation, mostly. The concern would be lining up against power running teams, like UConn, Syracuse and maybe Louisville and South Florida. West Virginia is probably not going to get a ton of looks like that this spring but can do so against its scout team in the fall. With big backs like Ryan Clarke and Matt Lindamood, the defense should get a decent simulation.


Jamie from Silver Spring, Md., writes: Every time the topic of forcing ND to join all in or exit is brought up the argument is how much they bring to the table in terms of bowl negotiations. I fail to see what the BE is gaining. The Champs Sports Bowl is at best the 10-15th best bowl out there and pitting the 2nd place BE team against the 3rd or 4th place ACC is nothing to brag about. At what point will the BE realize it is selling itself short?

Brian Bennett: Well, Jamie, you should see what kind of No. 2 bowl the Big East would have without Notre Dame. It probably really would be a No. 2. There is no way, zero, that the Big East would have had the Gator/Sun Bowl alliance for its second slot in the last arrangement if not for the Irish's inclusion in the deal. And Notre Dame was kind enough to never take away a spot in those games.


Grant from Florida writes: Brian, a while ago, the Big East said they were not going to wait on Villanova to accept, but at this point, Villanova is still undecided. It seems to me, that the Big East is waiting upon them, instead of asking a better, bigger, more of potential school like UCF. Its a fault at the Big East and Villanova's part, the Big East does want to expand, but why are they still waiting on Villanova?

Brian Bennett: First of all, Villanova is no longer undecided. The Wildcats are ready to move up to the FBS. Clearly, the league was waiting on Villanova, and everything else was just posturing. I'm flabbergasted that the league did not have its membership in line to make this decision, especially with the extra time they had while Villanova studied the issue. The stadium situation was well known for months. The Big East comes out of this looking silly for now, though all anyone will remember in the future is the eventual decision. This could still all get worked out, though I continue to believe that adding Villanova is a gamble not worth taking.
The number 1,000 is like Mount Everest for a college running back. Forget for a moment that over 12 regular season games plus a bowl, a runner has to average fewer than 77 yards per game to reach the milestone of 1,000 yards in a year. It's still a magical number.

The Big East has been blessed with top tailbacks the past few seasons, including five 1,000-yard rushers in 2010 (and two more guys who topped 920 yards last season).

Who will get there in 2011? Let's take a look at the top candidates, in order:

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Isaiah Pead
AP Photo/Al BehrmanCincinnati's Isaiah Pead is the Big East's leading returning rusher.
1. Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati: Pead is the Big East's leading returning rusher this season, having produced 1,029 yards last season. The senior could be in for an even bigger year in '11 if he can stay healthy and the Bearcats offense can remain committed to the run.

2. Ray Graham, Pittsburgh: Graham ran for 922 yards and averaged 6.2 yards per carry despite splitting carries with Dion Lewis last season. Now as the featured back -- and the only experienced ball carrier -- in new coach Todd Graham's fast-paced offense, Graham might be the safest bet of any Big East player to top 1,000 yards this year.

3. Antwon Bailey, Syracuse: Bailey rushed for 554 yards last season and now should be the starting tailback behind a veteran Orange offensive line. Delone Carter topped 1,000 yards each of the past two seasons in this offense, so Bailey could do the same if given the same opportunities.

4. D.J. Shoemate or some other Connecticut back: Picking a UConn back to go over 1,000 used to be a given. Donald Brown eclipsed 2,000 in 2008, two backs got into four figures in 2009, and Jordan Todman finished second nationally in rushing a year ago. The Huskies still have a powerful offensive line that will pave holes, and the running game will be important with an unproven quarterback. But there's no clear heir to Todman. Shoemate has gotten most of the reps this spring but must prove he's elusive enough to be an elite tailback. If not, perhaps Lyle McCombs or an incoming freshman will get a shot.

5. Unknown West Virginia back: Most of the focus on Dana Holgorsen's offense centers on the passing game. But Holgorsen had a 1,500-yard back last year at Oklahoma State and 1,200-yard one at Houston in 2008. So the Mountaineers could definitely see a player cross that threshold. The question remains whether that would be Ryan Clarke, Shawne Alston, Daquan Hargrett, Andrew Buie or whomever.

6. Jeremy Wright, Louisville: The sophomore likely will succeed Bilal Powell, who finished as the second best runner in the Big East last year. Wright showed his ability in limited time when Powell was hurt a year ago, and the Cardinals proved their commitment to running the ball under Charlie Strong in 2010. But Wright has also missed this spring with an injury, and the offensive line must replace four starters. Senior Victor Anderson has a 1,000-yard season under his belt but must regain his freshman form.

7. Darrell Scott/Demetris Murray/Dontae Aycock, South Florida: Call them the 3-D backfield. It's unclear which back will emerge as the leader in the USF backfield, whether it's the Colorado transfer Scott, the Auburn transfer Aycock or Murray, who ran for 542 yards a year ago. They might split carries so much that no one guy reaches 1,000.

8. Savon Huggins or another Rutgers back: The Scarlet Knights haven't had a 1,000-yard rusher since Ray Rice, though Joe Martinek got close two years ago. The conventional wisdom is that super-recruit Huggins will earn the running back mantle when he arrives this summer. But first he'll have to beat out Jeremy Deering, De'Antwan Williams and Jawan Jamison. And the Rutgers offensive line will have to be a whole lot better to clear the way toward 1,000 yards for any one back.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- It's early, real early, this spring for West Virginia, which began practice later than any Big East team. But one thing seems pretty clear in the initial going: the Mountaineers have a wide-open competition at running back.

This is something new around these parts, as West Virginia could count on Noel Devine and Steve Slaton before him to claim the ball-carrying load for the past several years. With a new offensive system and different types of backs on the roster this year, though, that position looks uncertain.

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West Virginia's Ryan Clarke
AP Photo/Jeff GentnerAt 230 pounds, Ryan Clarke is not the protypical running back for Dana Holgorsen's offense.
"I have not seen that Noel Devine or that Steve Slaton guy," head coach Bill Stewart said. "I have not seen that jump cut. Is it there? We'll see. But I haven't seen it yet."

The most experienced running backs on the team are 230-pound Ryan Clarke, 220-pound Shawne Alston and 235-pound Matt Lindamood. Those aren't the types of runners that Dana Holgorsen is used to using in his spread offense.

"The main back has always been a little quicker, a shiftier guy," Holgorsen said. "Someone who can get involved in the passing game, get the ball out in space and go score."

Kendall Hunter, who ran for more than 1,500 yards under Holgorsen last season at Oklahoma State, was a 200-pounder. He coached smaller, quicker backs at both Houston and Texas Tech before that.

Holgorsen will adapt his offense to his personnel -- see his three-back, diamond formation last season at Oklahoma State -- and West Virginia will be able to throw some serious power looks at teams with Clarke, Austin, Lindamood and even Tyler Urban, who will see some time in the backfield as the tight end is phased out.

But it seems likely that a younger, more fleet-footed tailback will get some opportunities in an offense based on speed.

"A guy like Daquan Hargrett or a Trey Johnson, those guys have got a chance to see the field and touch the ball a lot more than they did last year," Holgorsen said. "That doesn't mean we're giving up on Alston and Clarke."

The Mountaineers will also bring in two shiftier players this summer in highly-regarded running back prospect Andrew Buie, a 190-pounder, and highly-productive Texas high school runner Dustin Garrison, who measures 5-foot-8 and 160. Both could see some action right away, just as Slaton and Devine did as true freshmen.

It might be until the summer, at least, before West Virginia discovers the heir to those former stars.
Here's Part II of my conversation with West Virginia coach Bill Stewart. You can read Part I here.

This is the first time in a few years you haven't known who your starting tailback will be. How do you see that position this spring?


Bill Stewart: Well, it's wide open, honestly. We have some talented young men who are young guys. Shawne Alston, Ryan Clarke, Matt Lindamood -- these guys have played. Now it's time for Trey Johnson and some of these other signees from the year before to step up and make plays. This is going to be a learning spring, a big spring for them. And it's one they have a chance to showcase their skills out in space. That's what this offense is all about -- giving the ball to fast, athletic, quick guys who can make people miss. I don't think it will be a thing of beauty right from the start, but it will grow and we'll get better. I think all Mountaineer fans will be excited about what our offense is going to bring come August.

We saw Tavon Austin break out last year. How excited are you to see what he can do next, especially in this offense?


BS: You just have to get the ball in his hands. It doesn't matter if he's out in the flat, down the field or coming out of the backfield, he's a guy who has to have his touches. When he does touch the ball, good things happen. If the past is any indication of what's coming, then he has a chance for a tremendous year.

We know what guys like Tavon Austin, Brad Starks and even Stedman Bailey can do at receiver. What about Ivan McCartney?


BS: He has a chance to really get into the fold and the rotation. Last year, he just didn't know. He didn't have a spring ball, and as a true freshman, it's very, very difficult, particularly when you have players like Bradley Starks and Stedman Bailey out there. Ivan McCartney has a chance to be a very, very good player. You can't expect a touchdown every time the young man touches the ball. He's going to have to learn, going to have to block, run precise routes, be where he's supposed to be when the ball is in the air, get the ball and go make plays. He has the capability to do that, and he's shown some of it at times in scrimmages and things we did last fall. Spring time is a clean slate, a chance to go out and get a job. We're going to play a lot of receivers. I would think being a receiver in this offense, or a running back, whatever kind of skill person you are, that you would get excited because the ball is going to get thrown to you.

Where is Coley White this spring? Will he work at quarterback at all?


BS: Coley will be out in the slot at inside receiver. Geno Smith is our quarterback, and we have two nice freshmen who will have a chance to show their skills behind him. Then we have guys who can jump back there in that Wildcat -- can you imagine Tavon or Bradley Starks jumping back there? So there's going to be enough talent. We just have to stay healthy, and we have to see the new coaches and players. They'll all jell. It will just take a little time and be a learning situation But I truly expect smooth sailing.

You talked about the difficulty in replacing Chris Neild at nose tackle. What are your options there?


BS: Jorge Wright has a chance. He's grown now, he's a bigger young man. Josh Taylor has been a very steady backup. Those guys have a chance to get in there and show it's their time. Just like it's a chance for Branko Busic, Doug Rigg or Josh Francis at linebacker -- it's their time. At safety, it's time for Travis Bell to get out there and take a position. These are the things I'm excited about watching grow and formulate into a solid defense.

Bruce Irvin was spectacular as a pass-rush specialist last year. Can he now take the next step and be a complete player?


BS: He's worked very, very hard. He's gotten bigger, he's gotten stronger. Bruce has that innate strength, that explosiveness and power. And when you're fast, that really makes up for a lack of size. That speed, quickness, long arms -- he's like Julian Miller. These guys are not big, thick guys, but they're tall, very powerful guys that play with great leverage. If you'll remember, Bruce was not in spring ball [last year]. He was a third-down guy for the first half of the season, and then toward the second half, three-fourths of the year, he was in there on second down. Now what he has to become is a first-, second- and third-down player. And he's going to be in a starter's role. We don't want to just leave him in there and play the two-gap all the time, because now you're not using all his skill, his strength, speed and quickness. You put him in a position to make plays. Now he has to get in and play every down so he can become that complete overall and total football player.

You talked a lot last year about having the experience to disguise and move around on defense like the '08 team. Can you do that now without as much experience?


BS: The 2008 team was a thing of beauty, and last year was identical. You had a guy like a Robert Sands, a Sidney Glover -- those guys were moving, and if you pulled this end of the string the body parts all fell in place. This year, I still see a Terence Garvin, an Eain Smith, a Travis Bell who played a little bit. These guys have that, they just haven't done it.

It reminds me quite a bit of our '08 team, when we lost eight starters on defense after the Fiesta Bowl win. The first game we did OK, then we got beat up at East Carolina because we didn't tackle well, we didn't disguise well. Against Colorado, we got a little bit better. Then after that, they jelled together and got pretty solid. We're not at a point where we can do that every single year; it just doesn't happen. Not many teams in college football does that happen for. But we've got guys that have played, who have been out there in battle and in pressure situations enough that I think it will help carry over early. And it's all about early. It's like coming out of the blocks -- you have to have that confidence, have to have a playmaker, a guy who steps up.

You've talked about chemistry being key this year. What is the chemistry like with the whole new offensive staff?


BS: Everyone is fine. We're college football coaches, we love our jobs and do what we're supposed to do. The camaraderie we have blended in is what the players will see, and they'll pick up and go with that. I don't see one problem with that. It's been a smooth transition. We all get along and work hard. We're putting in the time to get to know each other. The staff will have to get to know each other and see what the players can do, and we'll rely on each other to win a football game.

I hope we're very, very explosive. We have the capability of that; it just hasn't been done yet. That's what spring is about, what fall preseason camp is about. You're not ever going to be hitting on all cylinders in the first game. But the camaraderie has been good. These guys are professionals, and it's much smoother than what people outside can imagine.

Big East mailbag

March, 30, 2011
3/30/11
3:00
PM ET
Once again, circumstances have forced me to move the regular Tuesday mailbag to Wednesday. But better late than never, right?

Mike from Somerville, N.J., writes: To add or respond to your comments last week regarding the security of Greg Schiano, one point that you didn't make is the public perception of the kids in the program being generally good kids, and their outstanding academic acheivement. Now, 4-8 with the powder-puffs on their schedule dilutes a lot of the good will, but a consistent competitive team, with bowl victories, and continued academic performance has him very secure at Rutgers. Toss in a Big East championship, and he could publically support the teachers' union in NJ and still be the favored son of NJ!

Brian Bennett: You raise a good point about Schiano's academic achievements, including Rutgers' APR crown. We saw how a slew of arrests hurt Dave Wannstedt last year. Still, if a coach wins big, then nobody talks about poor academics. If he doesn't win enough, nobody cares about high graduation rates. It's ultimately all about the won-loss record, and while Schiano is safe for now, no coach is immune to pressure if the losses mount.


Greg from New Jersey writes: Schiano apparently tried Mohamed Sanu out at punter during practice, and on his first kick he hit out a 55-yarder. Last year he had a rushing TD, a passing TD, and a receiving TD, not to mention an interception on the one play he was put at safety (in limited time mind you). My question is have you ever seen a player more versatile?

Brian Bennett: Paul Hornung, maybe? Having Sanu punt would sure open up lots of opportunities for fakes -- and create some nervous opposing coaches on fourth down.


Doug C. from Morgantown writes: Can we get an early oddsmakers on Big East Offensive Player of the year in 2011? Geno Smith has to be up there...who else?

Brian Bennett: I'd put it like this right now ...

Geno Smith: 3 to 1
Zach Collaros: 4 to 1
Ray Graham: 6 to 1
Isaiah Pead: 8 to 1
B.J. Daniels: 10 to 1
The field: 15 to 1


Casey H. from Charleston, W.Va., writes: Who do you feel will pick up the start at tailback for WVU next season, and do you think he will be a large component of the offensive production?

Brian Bennett: My hunch is it will be Shawne Alston. I just think he has the best combination of skills, and he was impressive in some spot duty last year. Ryan Clarke will also be used a lot. We'll have to wait and see on the incoming freshmen. Remember that Kendall Hunter ran for more than 1,500 yards last year for Dana Holgorsen at Oklahoma State.


Ed from Morgantown writes: Agree with WVU's spring superlatives, but don't underestimate the depth at WR. Beyond Tavon Austin and Bradley Starks, Stedman Bailey is going to break out this year, and we all have high hopes for OchoChinco's cousin Ivan McCartney (not to mention JD Woods & Coley White).

Brian Bennett: I mentioned receiver as a source of strength, but no less of an expert than Holgorsen himself has said the position needs more depth. He'd like to have eight dependable receivers, at least, for his system. Right now, I'd say West Virginia has about five or six.


Brad B. from Bethel Park, Pa., writes: Is Pitt's Kolby Gray the best country singer in college football?

Brian Bennett: Not my type of music, but that's pretty impressive. Pitt will have to hope he's equally good at safety, where he's moved back after a short spring stint at quarterback. This also reminds me: Is B.J. Daniels the best romance suspense novelist in college football?

Big East spring preview

February, 23, 2011
2/23/11
9:00
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Spring practice is just around the corner -- South Florida will be on its new practice fields next week, while other Big East teams will follow suit shortly after.

So here's a look at what to expect from each league team this spring.

Cincinnati

Spring practice starts: March 29
Spring game: April 16

What to watch:
  • Fixing the defense: There's little doubt that improving the defense is the first order of business in Clifton. The Bearcats ranked last in the Big East last season while giving up 28 points per game. The good news is that all 11 starters on that side of the ball are back. The bad news is those are the same guys who couldn't get it done a season ago. An extra year of maturity should help, and Butch Jones expects more depth and competition on defense, including the arrival of junior-college import Malcolm Murray at safety.
  • Restocking the Binns: Cincinnati should still be strong on offense with the return of senior quarterback Zach Collaros and senior Isaiah Pead, the leading returning rusher in the Big East. Yet the loss of the league's most productive receiver in 2010, Armon Binns, means the Bearcats need to find a few more guys to make plays at receiver. D.J. Woods is an obvious choice as the new go-to guy, but he'll have to solve his fumble problems. Transfer Kenbrell Thompkins, who couldn't get eligible last season, will look to step forward. Another sidelined receiver, freshman Dyjuan Lewis, won't be cleared to join in team activities until the summer.
  • Looking for leaders: One of the problems during the 2010 4-8 season, as voiced by departing senior Jason Kelce and implied by Jones, was a lack of leadership on the team. Hey, it happens sometimes when your program has been to back-to-back BCS games and young players feel an undeserved sense of entitlement. Jones has been trying to change that, and we should be able to tell during the spring whether some new leaders have emerged.
Connecticut

Spring practice starts: March 15
Spring game: April 16

What to watch:
  • Back to the future: For the first time since the end of 1990s, and for the first time ever as an FBS-level program, the Huskies will have someone other than Randy Edsall leading them through practice in March. Former longtime Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni took over when Edsall left for Maryland, and Pasqualoni hired new coordinators (George DeLeone on offense and Don Brown on defense) to mix in with the holdovers from Edsall's staff. UConn has been doing things the same way for a long time, and with pretty strong results. How will the team react to Pasqualoni's new-look, old-school ways?
  • Backfield in motion: Quarterback Zach Frazer is gone. Star tailback Jordan Todman left early for the NFL. Fullback Anthony Sherman graduated. Everything behind center is new. The quarterback position looks pretty wide open, with sophomore Michael Box perhaps having the edge after making one (very unsuccessful) start in 2010. Early enrollee Michael Nebrich is one to watch. How will the Huskies replace Todman? Good question. Robbie Frey decided to concentrate on graduate school, leaving USC transfer D.J. Shoemate as the only experienced ballcarrier. Freshman Lyle McCombs' status is unclear for spring after his offseason arrest, and the two running backs in the signing class won't arrive until summer. Right now, it's anybody's guess as to who might carry on the UConn running back tradition.
  • Reloading at linebacker: The Connecticut defense brings a lot back, but one position that needs refilling is linebacker. Lawrence Wilson, who led the Big East in tackles the past two seasons, and Scott Lutrus, a four-year starter and solid leader, both exhausted their eligibility. Sio Moore looks like a rising star and had some huge games in 2010, but the other two positions have large shoes to fill.
Louisville

Spring practice starts: March 23
Spring game: April 15

What to watch:
  • Smooth sailing for Bridegwater?: The Cardinals' most pressing issue is at quarterback, where senior co-starters Justin Burke and Adam Froman are gone. Highly-touted recruit Teddy Bridgewater will participate in the spring, and how quickly he picks up the college game and coordinator Mike Sanford's system could go a long way to determining what happens this fall. If he needs more time, senior Will Stein will happily take the reins.
  • Rebuilding the O-line: The key to Louisville's offensive success was its senior-laden line, which proved to be the best in the Big East a year ago. But now four new starters must be found to go along with center Mario Benavides. The new guys must get up to speed and develop chemistry quickly for the running game and presumed new starter Jeremy Wright to duplicate last season's progress.
  • Last line of defense: Louisville's defense was most vulnerable at its back end at times last season, and now the Cardinals must replace both starting cornerbacks (including All-Big East first team performer Johnny Patrick), no to mention two senior linebackers. An obvious candidate to take over some leadership is safety Hakeem Smith, who was the Big East rookie of the year. The plus side is that Charlie Strong and coordinator Vance Bedford will have more young talent to work with.
Pittsburgh

Spring practice starts: March 15
Spring game: April 16

What to watch:
  • Golden Graham?: There will be no more drastic change in the Big East this spring than the offense at Pittsburgh, which will go from a run-based pro-style attack to Graham's no-huddle, wide-open, points-per-minute machine. Can the Panthers get this new offense up and running this spring? Does Graham have the players to make it work? And how will his offense, so successful in Conference USA, translate into the more rugged Big East? All those questions will be fascinating to follow.
  • Quarterback competition: Junior Tino Sunseri started every game in his first year at the controls in 2010, and he played well at times. But a new style and new coaching staff means that he might have an edge, but not necessarily an insurmountable one, in this spring's competition. Redshirt freshman Mark Myers is multi-talented and will be given a look, along with classmate Anthony Gonzalez and Kolby Gray. The current staff has no loyalty to Sunseri, so he'll need to perform at a high level this spring to keep his job.
  • Shoring up the 'D': It's no secret that Pitt struggled in defending the pass last season. Graham's offense may be more explosive, but he doesn't want to have to get into shootouts all the time. He and defensive coordinator Keith Patterson have experience running 3-3-5 and 4-2-5 formations and may go to more of those kinds of looks to counter the increasing spread offenses throughout the league. First Pitt will have to get better play from its secondary and linebackers in pass coverage, and that starts this spring.
Rutgers

Spring practice starts: March 29
Spring game: April 30

What to watch:
  • Line change: The first thing to focus on this spring for the Scarlet Knights is the front five on offense. The offensive line has been a mess for the past two years and was an utter disaster a year ago. Head coach Greg Schiano is counting on junior-college center Dallas Hendrickson to provide some immediate help, and that another year will lead to better things for the returnees. Rutgers needs answers at right tackle, especially, and if the line can't block its own defense in spring practice, you'll know there's trouble.
  • A Frank re-assessment: Former Pitt offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti takes over the Scarlet Knights' playcalling duties this spring, and his pro-style background seems like a perfect match for what Schiano likes to do. Look for Cignetti to try to establish a stronger running game this spring (while waiting for mega-recruit Savon Huggins to arrive this summer) and abandon the Wildcat formation and other gimmicks that Rutgers desperately turned to the past two years. His work with sophomore starter Chas Dodd will also be critical, since there are no other experienced quarterbacks on campus.
  • Recharging the defense: You always expect a Schiano-led defense to be rock solid, but that defense wore down last season and ended up allowing more points in conference play than anybody. Three of the starting four defensive linemen are gone, as well as the team's leading tackler -- linebacker Antonio Lowery -- and safety Joe Lefeged. Schiano has recruited well and has lots of young players ready to step into bigger roles. Spring will be the time we start to learn who's ready to handle increased responsibilities.
South Florida

Spring practice starts: March 3
Spring game: April 2

What to watch:
  • Transfers accepted: Running backs Darrell Scott and Dontae Aycock have strong credentials; Scott was one of the more sought-after recruits in the country before disappointing at Colorado, while Aycock was set to play for Auburn. Both become eligible this year and will show their stuff this spring. The two big-bodied ballcarriers could add some power and explosiveness to the Bulls offense. Notre Dame transfer Spencer Boyd should bring depth, at the very least, to the secondary.
  • B.J. still the main Bull?: Junior B.J. Daniels seemed to reassert himself as the starter with a big performance in the Meineke Car Care Bowl win over Clemson. But before that, there were serious questions about whether sophomore Bobby Eveld might unseat him. Daniels goes into the spring with an obvious edge, but he'll be pushed by Eveld and redshirt freshman Jamius Gunsby. He'll need to perform at a consistent level to stiff-arm questions about his job security.
  • Receiver reconstitution: No doubt, receiver was the position that needed the largest upgrade a year ago. The bad news is, the Bulls lost leading pass-catcher Dontavia Bogan, who was nearly a one-man show at wideout in 2010. On the flip side, A.J. Love and Sterling Griffin return from injury. And Skip Holtz hopes getting thrown into the fire last season sped the development of guys like Evan Landi, Joel Miller and Lindsey Lamar. At the very least, the position has a lot more experience and depth than it did a year ago at this time.
Syracuse

Spring practice starts: March 8
Spring game: April 16

What to watch:
  • Displacing Delone: Senior Delone Carter brought the thunder to the Syracuse running game the last two years, and he may have been the least favorite ballcarrier for opposing tacklers to bring down. With him gone, it remains to be seen whether the smaller Antwon Bailey can be an every-down back, or if youngsters like Prince-Tyson Gulley and Jerome Smith are ready for an increased role in the offense.
  • Linebacker makeover: It would be hard for any team to lose a more productive linebacker tandem than the Orange did with seniors Doug Hogue and Derrell Smith. They were both crucial to what defensive coordinator Scott Shafer liked to do. The lone returning starter is Marquis Spruill, who played as a true freshman last year. Could a newcomer like junior-college transfer Siriki Diabate be ready to help immediately?
  • Wideout wonders: Marcus Sales helped rescue an ailing passing game with his breakout performance in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. Is Sales ready to play like that all the time now, or was he a one-game wonder? Will Van Chew continue the improvement he showed last season before getting injured? Can the Orange get more out of Alec Lemon? What new faces might help at receiver? The answers to these questions will be key to the attack under Nathaniel Hackett, who was promoted to offensive coordinator this offseason.
West Virginia

Spring practice starts: March 28
Spring game: April 29

What to watch:
  • Dana days: Mountaineer Nation is salivating at the thought of what Dana Holgorsen will do to revive the offense. Holgorsen has had an immediate and incredible impact at the last two places where he called plays, and some solid work in the spring is required to do the same in Morgantown. A couple of things are for sure: the Mountaineers will be throwing it around a whole bunch during practice, and fans will breathlessly gobble up every small detail. Another thing to watch will be the chemistry between Holgorsen's hand-picked offensive staff and Bill Stewart, the man he'll replace at the end of the season. That relationship will also be dissected relentlessly.
  • Defense reload or rebuild?: Most people assume West Virginia will continue to field an excellent defense because of coordinator Jeff Casteel. That may be true, but no team lost more defensive talent than the Mountaineers, who must replace frontline players like tackle Chris Neild, linebacker J.T. Thomas, safety Robert Sands and cornerback Brandon Hogan, among others. There's still a lot to like here, including ends Julian Miller and Bruce Irvin and corner Keith Tandy, but for Casteel must find new contributors to keep his 3-3-5 humming along.
  • Who's in the backfield?: It's not yet know just how much quarterback Geno Smith will be able to do during spring practice after his offseason foot surgery. Obviously, the more reps he can take, the better he'll be able to get Holgorsen's system down. And there's no experience behind him. West Virginia will be cautious with Smith, though, because the fall is way more important. With Noel Devine gone and Tavon Austin seemingly making his move to receiver permanent, there will be competition for the starting running back spot. Shawne Alston and Ryan Clarke are bulldozers who could add an interesting wrinkle to Holgorsen's spread if they get the job done.

Q&A with WVU's Dana Holgorsen, Part I

February, 17, 2011
2/17/11
4:15
PM ET
There's no more intriguing figure in the Big East for 2011 than Dana Holgorsen. The new West Virginia offensive coordinator/head-coach-in-waiting brings his high-powered offense to Morgantown, as everyone will be watching how the relationship between him and Bill Stewart works out. He's also a colorful character.

I talked to Holgorsen earlier this week about a host of topics, and here is Part I of our conversation. Look for Part II on Friday.

Now that you've gotten a chance to take a breath after signing day and actually settle in a bit, how important is this time period right now?

Dana Holgorsen: It's pretty important. That signing day week, we started to get the know the kids, and now with the five weeks of offseason [before spring practice], we've really got to take advantage from a watching film standpoint. It's about us offensive coaches, and the defensive coaches as well, getting on the same page and getting a plan for spring. And also, 1) getting to know the guys and 2) getting them lined up and 3) watching film of the offense, that way they've got an idea of what's going on the first day of spring. We don't want to start teaching them the first day of spring. We want to start teaching them now.

[+] Enlarge
Dana Holgorsen
AP Photo/Jeff GentnerDana Holgorsen is spending time during the offseason familiarizing himself with his personnel.
Have you gotten a sense of what the players can do by watching film and in what little you can interact with them at this point?

DH: I watched just a little bit of tape on what they did last year from a personnel standpoint. Everybody is kind of starting over. We've got a lot of experience coming back from guys who have played. But it's a new system. It's going to be a chance for a lot of kids to wipe the slate clean and start over and mature. There are a bunch of guys who had redshirted or hadn't played very much who are going to develop. We've got to figure out who those guys are. It will take practice time to do it.

Do you feel like you've got the speed and skill you need to run the offense the way you want?

DH: I think so. There is more experience at the receiver position here than there was at Houston when I first got to Houston or at Oklahoma State when I first got to Oklahoma State. There are probably guys here who have played more football, though that doesn't necessarily mean they're better. It doesn't mean they're going to develop. But I think there are some guys with more experience at the skill positions -- not at running back but at receiver. At receiver, I think we've got about five guys who are a proven commodity, while at running back I think we've got guys have played a little bit, but they played behind [Noel] Devine for a couple of years.

At Houston and Oklahoma State, you were able to get your offense installed and be highly productive right away. What's the secret to that?

DH: Each place is different. Both at Houston and Oklahoma State, I was coming into a situation where we had only three returning starters. But there were bodies on campus. We have more returning starters here than any of the two previous places I was at. It's about how they adjust and how they jell more than anything. We've done it before, and the system isn't any different than it's been the last three years. So we'll teach them and then line them up and then it's just a matter of meshing together.

Do you feel like it's a system that can be easily learned, without a lot of confusing terminology and such?

DH: I think one thing we've always done a good job of, and it's probably the biggest thing I learned from Mike Leach, is the organization of how we present it and how we practice it. I've made some changes at each stop each year to try and make it a little easier for these guys to grasp, but the key is to grasp it as quickly as possible. We're taking advantage of the meeting time we have over the next five weeks so they'll have a quicker grasp of it and get better at it. I don't want them thinking about what they're doing all the time. I want them just reacting.

What are your initial impressions of Geno Smith?

DH: Calm. He's pretty poised. He's played a lot of football and won a lot of games. People gravitate toward him, so whether he wants to be a leader or not, he's one of those guys who is. He's got a lot to learn, and he's got to prove he can do it. But watching him on film, he seems pretty poised in the pocket. He doesn't get rattled and doesn't panic.

Do you think he fits with what you want to do offensively?

DH: Yeah, I think he does. We don't have much on campus. We've got him and we've got two true freshmen who were midterm enrollees, so we have three quarterbacks. Geno is the returning starter, and then there are two high kids that are both 6-foot-3, good-looking kids who've thrown the ball a bunch. But you never know how those guys are going to develop. They've got a guy in front of them that has played games and has proved to be able to win.

How about the running back position, where you've got some bigger backs than West Virginia has had in a while?

DH: I just don't know a whole lot about them. There's Shawne Alston, but he's battling an injury and I haven't seen him run around. [Note: Alston is dealing with a knee injury but is expected to participate in spring practice]. Ryan Clarke has been impressive. He's a physical kid who does a good job in the weight room. He's a bigger back but also athletic as heck now. Those two guys have some snaps under their belt. We have to look at guys like Daquan Hargrett and Trey Johnson, and then a midterm guy like Vernard Roberts, who's a freshman. That gives you five people to line up and figure out what they can do.

And your system is adaptable for bigger backs?

DH: Either they get yards or they don't get yards. We had a first-team all-conference fullback at Oklahoma State who played about 35 snaps a game. So you've just got to evaluate your personnel and get the best ones out there. I don't care what they look like. It's about production, and if your better players are bigger people, then put 'em in there.
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